Monday, January 14, 2019

On Sunday, Matt Kuchar made it two wins in three US PGA starts. (Getty Images)

TEEING OFF

KUUUUCH KEEPS ROLLING

Spider-Man got the week started at the Sony Open at Hawaii, but the real superhero after four rounds, for the second time this season, was Matt Kuchar.

After waiting more than four years for another win, Kuchar came out on top just 64 days after his victory at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Even with the early success Kuch knows there's more to come.

"There is a lot of year left and a lot of great things that are out there to be done.”

Sky's the limit for the 40-year-old who sits second in the FedExCup standings. As his family rushed the green to watch dad lift the trophy, the Kuchar kids got a prize of their own in a state-of-the-art AIBO robotic dog.

“It's going to be a great addition to the family. We are going to have some fun with AIBO.”

A trophy and a robotic dog. Not bad for a week's worth of work in paradise.

The first one was impressive. The second one made you shake your head. The third one? Now we were residents of Ridiculous Town. And Chez Reavie was the mayor. The Kansas native holed out from the fairway three times for eagle during Round 2 of the Sony Open in Hawaii. The distances were 101 yards, 149 yards and 135 yards. Kinda like making three aces in a round without a tee. He made TOUR history by becoming the first player since hole-by-hole scoring was introduced in 1983 to have three eagles on par-4s in one round.

Need more? He became the first player since ShotLink technology was introduced in 2003 to dunk a shot for eagle three times from over 100 yards in one round.

“Honestly, I didn't think about it at all until after the third one went in,” Reavie said. He ended up shooting 5-under 65, and it will go down as one of the US PGA Tour’s wackiest scorecards: Three eagles, two birdies, 11 pars, one bogey and one double bogey.

Players such as Bubba Watson, Davis Love III, Bryson DeChambeau and former FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth said their biggest paydays weren’t the ones that made them instant millionaires. Early-career $10,000 cheques helped keep dreams alive, and in one player’s case, helped fund an engagement ring.

Even a small winner’s cheque from a non-PGA TOUR event provided huge boosts of confidence, even if it didn’t significantly boost the checking account. And, in the case of James Hahn, it also provided a beer shower and a swim in the ocean.

Rahm’s second US PGA TOUR victory didn’t come easily at PGA West Stadium Course. He had to fend off an impressive fight from Andrew Landry, who took Rahm to four play-off holes before Rahm finally prevailed. This year’s field includes Cali-native Phil Mickelson, who won here in 2002 and 2004.